Page 216 of Ruins
That lands harder than it should. Vera’s words echo back at me, the weight of them settling deep in my chest. “It isn’t safe.”
“It’s not safe if she’s alone, but she has a small army including Nico, that you’ve somehow roped into your orbit.” Angelo spits. “Take her out, show her your life, show her who you really are.”
“She knows who I am.”
“What the fuck ever. I need you to step up and take over for a week.”
“Get your consigliere to do it.”
“You’remy brother.”
“Then tell me where you’re going.”
He hesitates before responding. “Florida.”
I let out a sharp laugh, full of disbelief. Angelo curses under his breath. “Are you serious?”
“Yes, now will you do the fucking favor or not?”
“Fine, tell her I said hello.”
The call cuts off before I can get another word in. Fine. I slam my foot down on the gas. Every second wasted is a second too long away from her.
***
The sun has set when I make it back home. Luca and Romeo are in the foyer when I enter.
“Where’s my wife?”
“She’s upstairs,” Luca responds. “Nico took Luna home.”
I nod, briefing them on the memory cards now secured at NovaRael. “Head over there in the morning,” I instruct. “Meet with Marcus, assess the situation, and if necessary, reel Vaska in.”
I take the stairs two at a time, driven by an ache that gnaws at me. Even a few hours without Vasilisa feels like deprivation, like something vital has been carved from my soul. My heart pounds in anticipation, and when I push the door open, the sight of her steals my breath. She’s sitting cross-legged on the bed, her laptop balanced on her lap, fingers dancing across the keys. The glow of the screen illuminates her delicate features, and for a fleeting moment, jealousy nips at me—what could she be doing that captures her attention so completely?
But then she looks up, and the moment her gaze locks onto mine the world rights itself. Her smile is a beacon, warm and full of love, her eyes shimmering like constellations, and just like that, every insecurity vanishes.
“You’re home,” she breathes, her voice a mix of relief and happiness. She shuts the laptop, placing it on the nightstand, and bounds off the bed. In a heartbeat, she’s in my arms, her warmth colliding with mine, her lips crashing into me with the urgency of someone starved.
I hold her close, the scent of her warm cashmere perfume wrapping around me like a memory I never want to forget. I scoop her up effortlessly, laying her onto the mattress as my lips map the soft curve of her jaw, trailing down her neck. Her giggles spill into the air; light, unguarded, a sound so perfect, I’d bottle it if I could.
When I finally stop, I gaze down at her. She bites her bottom lip nervously, her big, expressive eyes searching mine. “I missed you,” she whispers, her words carrying the weight of her heart.
“Did you not have fun with your friend?” I ask gently, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
“Luna wasn’t happy she couldn’t come to our wedding,” she admits, her tone tinged with guilt.
A pang of remorse shoots through me, and I cup her cheek, my thumb stroking her soft skin. “Now that she’s been here, she can come by whenever she wants. I’ll make sure of it,” I say, my voice low but firm.
She smiles, but it’s small, hesitant, her eyes betraying a flicker of sadness. “What is it?” I ask, my chest tightening.
“She and I used to meet up once a month at this little café after class,” she says, her lips twisting as if trying to keep her emotions in check. Her nose crinkles, and I know she’s holding back tears. “I miss that. I want to do that again.”
“You want to go to cafes with Luna?” I ask, though I already know the answer.
She nods but adds softly, “And I want to go back to school.”
Her words hit me like a cold wind. “I thought you were going to take online courses.”
